²³ When they came to ^(A)Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah.^{[a] 24} And the people ^(B)grumbled against Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?”

² And all the people of Israel ^(A)grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or ^(B)would that we had died in this wilderness!

⁴ Now the ^(A)rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also ^(B)wept again and said, ^(C)“Oh that we had meat to eat! ^5 (D)We remember the fish we ate in Egypt that cost nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. ⁶ But now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at.”

^11 (A)Moses said to the Lord, “Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me? ¹² Did I conceive all this people? Did I give them birth, that you should say to me, ^(B)‘Carry them in your bosom, as a ^(C)nurse carries a nursing child,’ to the land ^(D)that you swore to give their fathers? ^13 (E)Where am I to get meat to give to all this people? For they weep before me and say, ‘Give us meat, that we may eat.’ ^14 (F)I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me. ¹⁵ If you will treat me like this, kill me at once, if I find favor in your sight, that I may not see my wretchedness.”